Department of Health and Social Care

Evusheld

Lord Mendelsohn: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Department of Health and Social Care on 20 April (151279), what estimate they have made of when the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) will complete the testing of Evusheld against Omicron sub-variants; and why this has taken longer to complete than in (1) the US, and (2) the EU.

Lord Kamall: AstraZeneca commissioned the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) to complete testing as part of studies into the effectiveness of Evusheld against Omicron variants. Initial data has been shared with AstraZeneca and testing continues for the Omicron variant BA.4. As timing of the results are dependent on a number of factors, we are currently unable to confirm the date of completion. AstraZeneca will review such data and determine whether further testing should be commissioned.When undertaking testing, the UKHSA follows strict processes designed to ensure such treatments are effective. These processes may differ from regulations in other jurisdictions.

The Senior Deputy Speaker

Parliamentary Estate: Fire Prevention

Lord Norton of Louth: To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker how many times fire alarms have been activated on the Parliamentary Estate in each of the first five months of 2022.

Lord Gardiner of Kimble: The number of times fire alarms have been activated on the Parliamentary Estate in the first five months of 2022 is as follows:January – 4February – 2March – 5April – 6May – 3

Treasury

VAT: Electronic Government

Lord Vinson: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the likely impact of HM Revenue’s ‘Making Tax Digital’ compulsory VAT scheme on the number of SME business that have (1) ceased trading, or (2) reduced turnover to below the VAT threshold.

Baroness Penn: There is no evidence to suggest that businesses have either ceased trading or reduced their turnover to below the VAT threshold due to Making Tax Digital (MTD) for VAT.Following the successful introduction of MTD for VAT-registered businesses with taxable turnover above the VAT threshold in April 2019, the Government has extended MTD for VAT to all other VAT-registered businesses from April 2022.Independent research shows that businesses using MTD-compliant software for their VAT obligations are realising efficiency benefits and the resulting reduction in errors is leading to additional tax revenue.

Credit: Regulation

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government whatsteps they are taking to develop regulation for Buy Now, Pay Later schemes.

Baroness Penn: The Government recognises that BNPL products pose several potential risks of consumer detriment, as set out in The Woolard Review into the unsecured credit market. That is why on 2 February 2021, the Government announced its intention to regulate BNPL products in a proportionate manner. The Government published a consultation on policy proposals for the regulation of BNPL on 21 October 2021, which closed on 6 January 2022. The Government is now reviewing responses to this consultation and considering next steps and intends to publish a consultation response in the coming weeks.

Fuels: Excise Duties

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to reduce fuel duty.

Baroness Penn: At Spring Statement 2022 in response to fuel prices reaching record levels, the government announced a temporary 12-month cut to duty on petrol and diesel of 5p per litre. This is the largest cash-terms cut across all fuel duty rates at once, ever, and is only the second time in 20 years that main rates of petrol and diesel have been cut. This cut represents savings for households and businesses worth around £2.4 billion in 2022-23. All taxes, including fuel duty, remain under review.

Oxford-Cambridge Arc: Finance

Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth: To ask Her Majesty's Government how much infrastructure spending they have committed in relation to the Oxford–Cambridge Arc (Ox–Cam Arc); and in what years such spending will take place, broken down by (1) rail, (2) schools, (3) hospitals, (4) housing, and (5) other categories.

Baroness Penn: The Government recognises the importance of the Oxford-Cambridge Arc as a globally renowned hub of innovation, with businesses and universities that are leading the way in life sciences, space and green technologies. Businesses from these fields will benefit from this Government’s investment in R&D, that will deliver £20bn by 2024-25 with an increase of £5bn over the Spending Review period.  This question has been interpreted as requesting details on spend associated with the OxCam Growth Programme. In October 2021, the Government completed a 12-week public consultation gathering views to shape a vision for an Arc Spatial Framework. The results from this consultation are currently being considered and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities will provide more information in due course.

Cabinet Office

Veterans: LGBT+ People

Baroness Barker: To ask Her Majesty's Government what recent progress they have made regarding their review into the treatment of LGBT veterans.

Baroness Barker: To ask Her Majesty's Government what military representatives are participating in the review into the treatment of LGBT veterans by the Office for Veterans’ Affairs.

Lord True: Recently, significant work has been undertaken to identify the appropriate person to lead this important and high profile review. The Minister for Defence People and Veterans, Leo Docherty MP will announce the Chair shortly.A military liaison officer has been assigned to the Review and the MoD Diversity and Inclusion Directorate is working to support the Review by coordinating pan-Defence engagement.

Honours

Lord Blunkett: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is (1) the political affiliation, and (2) area of residence, for all living recipients of Companions of Honour, where known.

Lord Blunkett: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many honours, by each award level, were received in each region and nation of the UK in The Queen's Birthday Honours List 2022; and what percentage of the population of each such region and nation that number represents.

Lord Blunkett: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many honours above OBE level were awarded to people who were (1) living in, or (2) working or providing service to, the South Yorkshire area at the time of their nomination for an honour in The Queen's Birthday Honours List 2022.

Lord True: There are currently 63 living recipients of the Companion of Honour. We do not collect the information requested on political affiliation, nor do we monitor areas of residence after an award is bestowed. In supporting the levelling up agenda, Her Majesty’s Government would like to see representation in the honours system from across the whole of the United Kingdom, reflecting the extraordinary contributions made across the country. Data is collected using the county that the recipient gives as their correspondence address; this is usually their current home address and does not necessarily reflect their area of origin. The percentage of BD22 recipients living in each region by level is attached. The Government publishes honours transparency data broken down by both town/city and county. Data is collected using the county the recipient gives as their correspondence address (usually their home address rather than their places of origin). This data relates only to the main Prime Minister’s List and does not include data from the Defence List or the Overseas and International List, which are not administered by the Cabinet Office. The transparency data for the Queen’s Birthday Honours List 2022 can be accessed at:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-queens-birthday-honours-2022 data table (pdf, 51.0KB)

Kate Josephs

Lord Scriven: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have had any correspondence (1) with Ms Kate Josephs, former Director General of the Covid Task Force, since she left the role, or (2) with Sheffield City Council, regarding the Cabinet Office leaving party she attended on 17 December 2020; and if so, on what dates this correspondence took place.

Lord Scriven: To ask Her Majesty's Government whatdiscussions they have had with (1) Ms Kate Josephs, former Director General of the COVID-19 Taskforce, since she left the role in January 2021, and (2) Sheffield County Council, regarding the Cabinet Office leaving party Ms Josephs attended on 17 December 2020; and what date any communication took place.

Lord True: It would not be appropriate to either confirm or deny whether the Cabinet Office has had any communications with, or in relation to, any individuals in order to preserve the confidentiality and integrity of investigation processes.

Privy Council

Lord Blunkett: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byLord True on 25 May (HL293) and the revised arrangements for an Accession Council, how many Privy Councillors were present at the last Accession Council to affirm the transition of the monarchy.

Lord True: In 1952, Part I of the Accession Council was held on Wednesday 6th February 1952. There were 191 attendees, comprising some 165 Privy Counsellors, representatives of the Realms and the Commonwealth, and the City of London. Part II of the Accession Council was held on Friday the 8th February 1952, on the return of The Queen from Kenya, and attended by 175 Privy Counsellors.

Technology: Procurement

Lord Vaizey of Didcot: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the use of pre-market engagement in the procurement of technology by the Government; and what plans they have to publish that assessment.

Lord Vaizey of Didcot: To ask Her Majesty's Government what percentage of contract awards made by public sector buyers in (1) 2019, (2) 2020, and (3) 2021, were preceded by pre-procurement market engagement processes.

Lord Vaizey of Didcot: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the potential of using commercial off-the-shelf software solutions as opposed to bespoke software solutions in the public sector.

Lord True: Cabinet Office does not hold information on contracting authorities pre-market engagement activities or details of the percentage of contract awards that were preceded by pre-procurement market engagement processes.Government already makes use of a range of commercial, off the shelf software solutions from vendors of all sizes. The Technology Code of Practice and Government’s spend controls processes ensure that bespoke solutions are developed in an accessible, open and secure manner that can be shared and used across Government.

Department for International Trade

Trade Agreements: South America

Baroness Coussins: To ask Her Majesty's Government what provisions for the protection of human rights defenders are included in theUnited Kingdom–Andean Countries Trade Agreement; and what enforcement measures are in place.

Lord Grimstone of Boscobel: Respect for democratic principles and fundamental human rights underpins the United Kingdom–Andean Countries Trade Agreement. The treaty allows for ‘appropriate measures’ to be taken by any member state ‘in accordance with international law’ where breaches occur. The agreement also includes a Trade and Sustainable Development (TSD) chapter, which aims to ensure that both Parties encourage high levels of environmental and labour protection. This chapter provides for an annual TSD Sub-Committee, which is an opportunity for the UK to raise concerns with partner countries where we believe there have been violations of workers’ rights or environmental commitments. The Sub- Committee last met in April 2022.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

Internet: Safety

Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have prepared a draft list ofpriority categories for “legal but harmful” content for (1) adults, and (2) children, which is due to be set out in secondary legislation under the proposed Online Safety Bill.

Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick: To ask Her Majesty's Government when companies in scope of the Online Safety Bill will be provided with a draft list ofpriority categories for “legal but harmful” content for (1) adults, and (2) children.

Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay: Priority harmful content to children and adults will be set out in secondary legislation once the Secretary of State has been granted the relevant powers to make regulations for priority harmful content under the Bill.Her Majesty’s Government has a duty to consult Ofcom on the proposed priority categories of harmful content before designating them in secondary legislation.Setting out the priority harms in secondary legislation will allow Her Majesty’s Government to respond to changing risks to children and adults online, ensuring that new, currently unforeseen harms can be dealt with as they emerge.

Internet: Safety

Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the adequacy of the definitions provided in the Online Safety Bill for (1) journalistic content, (2) content of democratic importance, and (3) news publisher content.

Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what technical feasibility assessment they have undertaken regarding the (1) journalistic, (2) news publisher, and (3) content of democratic importance, exemptions set out in the Online Safety Bill.

Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay: Her Majesty’s Government is confident that the protections for recognised news publishers, journalistic content, and content of democratic importance are technically feasible and that the Bill’s definition of the relevant terms is appropriate.Recognised news publishers’ content will be exempted from platforms’ new online safety duties. This means tech companies will be under no legal obligation to apply their new safety duties to that content. The criteria under which an organisation qualifies as a publisher are set in the Bill. When drafting these criteria, Her Majesty’s Government has taken significant care to ensure established news publishers are captured, while limiting the opportunity for others to benefit.Category 1 service providers will also need to have clear policies relating to their treatment of journalistic content and content of democratic importance, and to ensure these are enforced consistently. Ofcom will set out further details in codes of practice about how companies can comply with these duties.

Parliamentary Works Sponsor Body

Parliament: Repairs and Maintenance

Baroness Hodgson of Abinger: To ask the Parliamentary Works Sponsor Body how much money they have spent so far on drawing up plans for the Restoration and Renewal of the Houses of Parliament.

Lord Best: Since the creation of the Sponsor Body in April 2020 to the end of March 2022, the Sponsor Body and Delivery Authority spent an estimated £212 million on the Restoration and Renewal Programme. This includes costs for design work, surveys, preparation of the detailed and costed plan (also known as business case development), programme management, staffing the two organisations, and data and digital services. All of the spend to date has been in accordance with the Restoration and Renewal Programme remit to progress the work required under the Parliamentary Buildings (Restoration and Renewal) Act 2019.A further £87 million of R&R funding for 2022/23 has been agreed by the Commissions of both Houses and the Parliamentary Works Estimates Commission.